more car advice?

[Wood_workur]

I went looking at cars today with my dad. We went to a Hyundai, Honda, and Ford dealership.

At the Hyundai dealership, we looked at the sonata. Price was great, and its a contender.

At the Honda dealership we looked at the civic, accord, and the pilot. The civic was too small, and while he liked the accord, unless he can knock 4k off the price to make it closer to the Hyundai in price he wouldn't buy it. The pilot looked great as well, however price again was too high.

At the ford dealership, we had planned to look at the Taurus and the Fusion. He eliminated the Taurus because of the price for the car was less than what you got with the Fusion. He loved the fusion- similar price as the Hyundai, and My mom drove one in Florida as a rental, and aside from the really high rear end its was a great car. Then he was the F-150. He finally paid attention to it, and noticed how much space there is in the crew cab. Price again a bit high, but he's still considering it.

We didn't stop at the Chevy dealership to look at the 1500 Silverado (prices are really low) or at a Toyota dealership to look at the Camry or the Tacoma. (He says he just doesn't feel good about Toyota for some reason)

He also picked up the consumer reports for cars.

Car-reliability-satisfaction-owner cost
Sonata-5/5-4/5-4/5
Fusion-4/5-4/5-4/5
F-150-3/5-3/5-2/5
Silverado-3/5-3/5-3/5
Camry-4/5-4/5-5/5
Tacoma-4/5-4/5-4/5

All of these vehicles were recommended by consumer reports as well.

What do you guys think about these cars?

[TB Roye]

You throw out the big Ford and Chevy pickup and the Tocoma is right in with the rest. I have an 02 Tacoma Double Cab (crew cab) and like it fine the new ones are an improvement though. The rest of the cars listed are all good vehicles. Just how much you want to pay. Honda probably won't deal much the other might.

Tom

[Uncle Cracker]

Doesn't feel right about the Toyota? Wow. Always gets great reliability and longevity grades, and most are now built in the US. Wonder what the problem is...

[Wood_workur]

well, now he is looking at the Tacoma, so I wonder what made him decide to look at it, but at least he is looking at a great truck. I think it was seeing the space that a double cab really offers that set him off.

[TB Roye]

Tell him it is great for hauling grand kids. That is why I got mine I could put 3 car seats in the back seat if need be. Mine has never been in the shop other than for service. 6 years and 73k miles 1 battery, on second set of tires and front brakes. The V6 is great but does't get the best mpg, the low rear end gear is the reason, mine came with a 4:10 rear gear. I can get 20-22 mpg on the highway at 65mph.

Tom

[Wood_workur]

Tell him it is great for hauling grand kids. That is why I got mine I could put 3 car seats in the back seat if need be. Mine has never been in the shop other than for service. 6 years and 73k miles 1 battery, on second set of tires and front brakes. The V6 is great but does't get the best mpg, the low rear end gear is the reason, mine came with a 4:10 rear gear. I can get 20-22 mpg on the highway at 65mph.

Tom

hah... I don't think thats what he wants it for.... my oldest sister is still a freshman in college.

[jackellis]

I just bought the 4 cylinder Tacoma for several reasons. 1) Reliability. 2) Low initial cost. 3) 4 cylinder engine means low operating cost. 4) Hate the idea of driving a larger vehicle when I really don't even need a pickup that often. 5) Reputation. Our Tacoma was made about 20 miles away in Fremont, California so it's American made, even if it has a foreign badge.

I could see the point in a larger vehicle for...how do I say this politely...larger people. However I'm a medium-sized guy and my wife is vertically challenged (aka short), so we do fine with smaller, more efficient vehicles.

Some people gripe about the composite bed in the Tacomas. For Ohio, I think they'd be an advantage because they won't rust. Also note that Toyota bought back a bunch of older Tacomas when they discovered the frames were corrodiing badly. I like the fact that they value their reputation and decided it was cheaper to avoid the lawsuits up front than to wait until people were hurt or killed because frames failed.

[LCHIEN]

if i was buying a vehicle today higher gas mileage would be near the top of my requirements.

[messmaker]

I would throw a 4 cylinder Altima in the group. My wife has an Accord and it is fine but the Nissan is a great driving car. C.R. had it as the #1 mid-size the last time I looked.

[Bill Anderson]

I have an 05 Tacoma double cab (true 4 door, not access cab) 4wd, and love it. I bought it last year used, and have had no problems. I like the interior room, the 4-doors are VERY convenient, 4wd is nice to have in winter, adjustable tie downs in bed. It does need new cup holders in the front though. Gas for this truck is not too bad, as someone mentioned 20-22 on the highway, at least I don't think that is too bad for a truck this size, and with 4wd. It is not so big that it is difficult to get into or out of. It is easier to manuver into parking spaces than the F-250 that I had before. Overall I would buy this truck again. BTW, my 05 is the same body style as the new 2009. It is a great truck. Good Luck, Bill

If Ford would have had a true 4 door truck that would have been comparable with the Tacoma, I would have given a serious look at that. But they don't have one. I didn't care for the Sport Trac thing.

[JimD]

You did not say a lot about your criteria. Gas mileage is important but a lot more important if you drive a lot. If you occasionally need to haul things, a pickup is nice but I use a little utility trailer behind my SUV.

I just bought my daughter a Hyundai Elantra based upon low price and long warranty (5 year bumper to bumper + 10 year power train). It gets good reviews too. A sonata should be a bigger version of a similar vehicle.

Cheapest transportation is the cars. May or may not be what you want, however.

Jim

[Russianwolf]

Do have your dad check out the Chevy Colorado. It actually gets better mileage than the Tacoma and you might be able to get a better discount on it than a Toyota

This should show the comparison of the Tacoma 4dr. 4wd vs. the Colorado LT1 Crew Cab 4wd. Price is about $200 different.
http://autos.msn.com/research/compar...6237&v=t105168

[Wood_workur]

You did not say a lot about your criteria.

I'm not looking to pick between them, but find out more what people think about the individual cars. I don't care if I get 100 mpg if I need a new engine ever 10,00 miles. So I'd say overall cost of ownership is more of an issue than gas mileage.

Do have your dad check out the Chevy Colorado. It actually gets better mileage than the Tacoma and you might be able to get a better discount on it than a Toyota

This should show the comparison of the Tacoma 4dr. 4wd vs. the Colorado LT1 Crew Cab 4wd. Price is about $200 different.
http://autos.msn.com/research/compar...6237&v=t105168

If my dad bought a Chevy truck He'd get a Silverado. rated higher by consumer reports, and the price for a crew cab long with a 6.5' bed is absurd at the moment- about $16k.

The colorado also gets a pretty bad report from consumer reports.

[justaguy]

My personal experience with a 2005 F150 Supercrew was not a good one. The truck was in the shop 20 times in the first 18 months and 18,000 miles. The following items failed and required replacement; passenger door window motor, heat/AC fan, front ABS sensors, rear ABS sensors, and the steering rack. In addition, the remaining visits were required due to check engine light conditions showing problems in the fuel and emision systems.

Each visit to the dealer for repair required a second return visit or keeping the car overnight for the repair due to not having the parts in stock.

I now drive a Honda Ridgeline which I have had for 18 months and 12,000 miles. So far it's needed one oil change, a tire rotation, and no repairs.

[Bill Anderson]

I can say for certain that I get more mpg in my Tacoma than is stated by the msn.com link. If $200 is the difference between the Tacoma and the Colorado, then Chevy will be holding onto A LOT of the Colorado trucks. Resale on the Tacomas are much better than the Colorados, and I am not talking hundreds of dollars, it is thousand(s). So you can save $200 in the beginning on a Colorado, but it will cost you down the road. I can also say, that I would not trade my 2005 Tacoma Double Cab 4wd, for a 2009 Colorada with the same, or more, features. Bill